From what the umbilical cord goes to the baby. Where does the mother's umbilical cord go after childbirth? The last minutes of the umbilical cord

Many young women, especially those who give birth for the first time, are interested in the question of where the umbilical cord goes after giving birth. Let's take a closer look: why does a baby need an umbilical cord at all, when does it form and where does it go to the mother after childbirth?

What is the umbilical cord and what is it for?

This anatomical formation appears almost at the very beginning of pregnancy. According to its anatomical structure, the umbilical cord is nothing more than a part of the chorion and a part of the ovum, from which the placenta is first formed, from which the umbilical cord already departs. As a result, a single anatomical formation is formed, which is called in medicine (placenta and umbilical cord). It is this education that plays a huge role in the pregnancy process. Through the placenta, the baby receives various necessary nutrients and trace elements, as well as metabolic products. In addition, it is through the uteroplacental system that the process of hematopoiesis is carried out in the fetus (oxygen is supplied to the organs and tissues).

What happens to the umbilical cord after the end of labor?

Having told about what the afterbirth is, let's try to figure out where the mother's umbilical cord goes after childbirth, and where it goes.

This anatomical formation should normally leave the mother's body on its own almost immediately after the end of the labor process. As a rule, it takes 1.5-2 hours to separate the placenta. This happens as a result of a short-term fight. In some cases, they resort to manual separation of the placenta, if this does not happen within the above time. In addition, an indication for this kind of manipulation is severe blood loss (more than 300 ml).

After the placenta leaves, obstetricians carefully examine the uterine cavity. This is necessary in order to exclude the possibility of the presence of residual tissue, which, if not removed, will eventually lead to infection.

The period of discharge of the placenta, immediately after childbirth, is considered the third period of labor. In terms of duration, it is the shortest. However, the condition of the woman herself after childbirth will depend on how it goes. Also, this factor has a direct impact on the duration of the recovery period.

After the afterbirth has completely departed, it is usually disposed of. However, in the West, there is such a practice when women are removed from the umbilical cord at will, which are frozen and stored in a so-called bank. They can be used subsequently in the treatment of various kinds of diseases, both for the woman herself, the child, and for their loved ones. In the CIS countries, this practice is only in its infancy.

In order for the fetus to develop normally in the womb, nature provides for the emergence of temporary organs that help the unborn child to interact with the mother's body. These are the placenta and the umbilical cord. The correct structure and stable functioning of both will give a high chance of giving birth. healthy baby; if the work of the temporary body is disrupted for some reason, there is a threat to the development, and often the life of the fetus. Let's figure out why the umbilical cord is needed and what to do when doctors discover pathologies in it.

What is the umbilical cord, what does the organ consist of

The first scar in a person's life is the navel - a depression that forms after the removal of the umbilical cord: the organ is cut when the child comes out into the light, the remainder disappears, the wound is overgrown. Two identical navels, like fingerprints, are not found in humans.

The umbilical cord is a cord-like organ, within which there are vessels that carry blood from the placenta to the fetus and vice versa; in other words - the intrauterine "highway". Since the placenta communicates directly with the pregnant woman's body, the umbilical cord inextricably connects the expectant mother with the baby. In another way, the umbilical cord is called the umbilical cord.

The cord has a gray-bluish color; looks like a tube twisted in a spiral. If you feel it, the tube will be tight.

The umbilical cord resembles a blue-gray silicone tube, but is actually entirely organic; ensures blood circulation between mother and fetus

When and how is the umbilical cord formed

The umbilical cord begins to form at the 2nd week of pregnancy, and by the 12th week it is already fully functioning. As the fetus grows, the umbilical cord also increases in size.

First, from the wall of the hind intestine of the embryo, the embryo develops, which serves as a respiratory organ for the future baby - this is allantois, a process that resembles a sausage in shape. Allantois carries the vessels from the body of the embryo to the outer shell - the chorion. It is from allantois that the umbilical cord is gradually formed; later, the process includes the remains of the yolk sac - another temporary organ responsible for normal development fetus before the formation of the placenta. With the appearance of a full-fledged placenta (by 12-16 weeks of gestation), the yolk sac is no longer needed, its tissues serve as “building material” for the umbilical cord.

One end of the umbilical cord is fixed in the umbilical region of the fetus, the other is closed with the placenta... There are four attachment options:

  • central - that is, in the middle of the "cake" (the shape of the placenta is similar to a cake, the word is translated from ancient Greek); considered the most successful;
  • lateral - not in the center, but not at the very edge;
  • marginal - the umbilical cord clings to the edge of the placenta;
  • meningeal - rare; The umbilical cord does not reach the placenta and is attached to the membranes between which the umbilical cord vessels extend to the placenta.

Central attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta is most common

How the umbilical cord works

The bulk of the umbilical cord falls on Warton jelly - a unique connective tissue; is a jelly-like substance with reticular fibers and a large amount of collagen. The jelly is elastic and has a strong structure. After birth, such tissue in the human body does not come across.

In the umbilical cord, jelly plays an important role:

  • provides the elasticity of the temporary organ;
  • protects the vessels through which the blood circulates from mechanical damage, in particular, squeezing, as well as from twisting.

Wharton's jelly feeds on separate blood vessels; the amount of the substance increases at 6–8 months of pregnancy. At the end of gestation, the jelly is transformed into connective tissue, saturated with collagen fibers.

In addition to the main vessels of the umbilical cord, the following stretch along the cord:

  • nerve fibers;
  • yolk duct - while the yolk sac is active, this vessel transfers valuable substances from the sac to the embryo;
  • urinary duct (or urachus) - removes fetal urine into the amniotic fluid.

On later dates the need for ducts disappears, both are gradually absorbed. It happens that they do not completely dissolve, then pathologies may appear - for example, a cyst forms in the urachus.

Outside, the umbilical cord is covered with a closed amniotic membrane - several layers of connective tissue. Not reaching a centimeter to the navel, the amnion passes into the skin of the unborn child.

The main vessels of the umbilical cord

The main work of providing the fetus with oxygen and nutrients in the umbilical cord is performed by three blood vessels: two arteries and one vein. Initially, two veins form, but while the fetus is growing, one of the veins closes.

In the vessels of the umbilical cord, everything happens differently than in the systemic circulation:

  • arterial blood enriched with valuable substances and oxygen flows from the placenta to the fetus through a vein with thin walls and a wide lumen;
  • the venous blood used by the fetus, filled with carbon dioxide and "waste" - metabolic products, returns to the placenta through the arteries; the baby's place (placenta) clears the fluid, thus replacing the liver, which is still being formed in the fetus; followed by the purified and re-saturated with useful elements, the blood again rushes through the umbilical vein to the fetus.

The volume of blood flowing to the fetus through the vein is equal to the volume that flows through the arteries. At 20 weeks of gestation, the blood flow rate in the umbilical cord is 35 milliliters per minute, and before childbirth, it increases to 240 milliliters per minute.

With the help of vessels in the umbilical cord future child eats and breathes

Dimensions of the umbilical cord

The diameter of the umbilical cord is on average one and a half to two centimeters; depends on the amount of Wharton's jelly.

In the absence of pathologies, the length of the umbilical cord corresponds to the growth of the unborn child and increases in size with the fetus. In a newborn, the umbilical cord in most cases is no more than 50-52 centimeters. There are babies with a longer rope, up to 70 centimeters, or a little shorter - 40–45 centimeters. Both options are recognized as minor deviations from the norm, in which it is premature to sound the alarm.

If the length of the umbilical cord is more than 70 centimeters or shorter than 40, this is already a cause for concern. Such conditions cannot be considered normal, they often lead to complications in the development of the fetus.

When something is wrong with the umbilical cord

Why does this or that future mother anomalies of the umbilical cord appear, so far it has not been possible to find out exactly; medical science has only guesses. So, among possible reasons pathologies are called:

  • bad habits;
  • the work of women in industries that are hazardous to health (for example, associated with radiation);
  • living in an area with an increased background radiation;
  • taking certain medications;
  • periodic nervous disorders, stress;
  • oxygen deficiency in the body of the expectant mother.

According to doctors, cord abnormalities often mean that the fetus has a developmental abnormality - in particular, chromosomal abnormalities leading to Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome, and other refractory mental disorders.

The fact that a child will be born with Down syndrome, at the stage of gestation, is signaled by anomalies of the umbilical cord - for example, the absence of one vessel

Consider some of the anomalies of the umbilical cord and the consequences to which they lead.

Entanglement of the fetus

It would seem that there is a direct connection between the length of the umbilical cord and the high probability that it will wrap around the fetal neck. However, not everything is so simple: a long umbilical cord, of course, increases the threat of entanglement, but the cause of complications is not always the case.

In some cases, the unborn child becomes entangled in an ordinary umbilical cord, and even in a short one; for example, if the baby is too active. And the excessive activity of the fetus provokes, in particular, a strong nervous excitement of the mother: adrenaline is released into the blood, which passes through the placenta and the umbilical cord to the baby, causing anxiety.

Umbilical cord entanglement is one of the main fears of the expectant mother. No wonder: pathology occurs in 20-30% of pregnant women.

There are such types of entanglement:

  • isolated - a loop of the umbilical cord wraps around one part of the body - a handle, a leg;
  • combined - several loops at once cover the neck or limbs; in other cases, the umbilical cord is repeatedly wrapped around the body part.

Double entanglement of the fetal neck with the umbilical cord is more dangerous than a single one; will create problems during gestation and delivery

When the loops are not tightened, the prognosis is more favorable: the baby is even able to extricate himself from the "trap". If the entanglement is tight, it is impossible to free oneself; the umbilical cord squeezes its own blood vessels, the flow of nutrients and oxygen to the fetus is difficult, hypoxia occurs.

Oxygen starvation is extremely dangerous for the fetus; leads to complications, including:

  • intrauterine growth retardation - the fetus is behind the "schedule", gains insufficient weight, grows poorly; after childbirth, it resembles a premature baby, even if born on time;
  • neurological disorders in a newborn baby;
  • mental and physical developmental delay; hypoxia provokes irreversible changes in the brain - ischemia, edema, hemorrhage;
  • weak resistance of the body to infections;
  • one of the most serious consequences is cerebral palsy.

During acute oxygen deficiency, fetal death in the womb is not excluded.

When an abnormally short umbilical cord is wrapped around the fetus, the loop will almost certainly be tight. Strong tension of the umbilical cord threatens premature placental abruption; if the placenta is half exfoliated, the death of the baby is inevitable. When a smaller part of the child's place departs, the woman is placed in a hospital for preservation and is recommended to give birth using a cesarean section.

A shortened umbilical cord also creates problems during childbirth: squeezing through the birth canal, the child is deprived of freedom of maneuver, which is why severe hypoxia threatens to occur right at the time of delivery.

To reduce the threat of fetal entanglement, the expectant mother needs:

  • walk more often and for a long time in the fresh air; the summer months are best spent outside the city, in the country;
  • maintain physical activity, do gymnastics for pregnant women, including breathing;
  • less nervous, avoid stress;
  • regularly visit a gynecologist, take tests on time, undergo examinations.

Prolapsed umbilical cord

A sure sign of the beginning of labor - so to speak, the overture is a discharge amniotic fluid... In some cases, the umbilical cord is carried away by the fluid flow, especially if it is too long. As a result, the organ ends up in the cervix or penetrates into the vagina - that is, it seems to fall out of place.

Meanwhile, ahead is the advancement of the unborn child along the birth canal; getting into the narrow space of the neck, the fetal head squeezes the umbilical cord, which means that the child blocks the access of oxygen to himself. As a rule, this situation is typical for early birth... The risks to a baby's life increase when:

  • a pregnant woman has a narrow pelvis;
  • the fruit is large;
  • the unborn child has a movable head;
  • breech presentation in the fetus.

At breech presentation the fetus is facing the entrance to the birth canal with its legs or buttocks; this position can cause the umbilical cord to fall out

A woman is able to detect trouble only after the waters have receded; will feel the presence of a foreign object in the vagina. If the expectant mother is already in the hospital by this time, she needs to get on all fours, leaning on her elbows, and call for help. Sometimes the umbilical cord can be returned to its previous position. If attempts are futile, urgent surgery is required.

Knots on the umbilical cord

Obstetrician skill during childbirth helps save the life of a baby with a cord knot

False knots are not actually knots, but thickenings on the umbilical cord that occur if:

  • varicose expansion of the umbilical vessels occurred;
  • vessels are too tortuous;
  • a large amount of Wharton's jelly has accumulated in the umbilical cord.

This anomaly is not dangerous; the expectant mother calmly carries the fetus and gives birth to a healthy child.

Lack of a vessel in the umbilical cord

By the 20th week of gestation, when a woman undergoes a special ultrasound examination - dopplerometry - the doctor is able to count the number of vessels in the umbilical cord.

Ultrasound allows the doctor to detect possible abnormalities in the development of the fetus, including those associated with umbilical cord abnormalities

When there is reason to suspect anomalies of the umbilical cord (slow or rapid heartbeat, signs of hypoxia), the doctor sends the patient for additional examinations, including:


The method of treatment depends on what type of pathology the diagnosis revealed. If a loose umbilical cord entanglement or false knots on the cord are found, the woman stays at home, but is regularly examined by a doctor. In more difficult cases, the pregnant woman is admitted to a hospital; when the fetus is diagnosed with severe hypoxia as a result of tight entanglement or the presence of true nodes on the umbilical cord, preschedule delivery by cesarean is prescribed.

It happens that the unborn child is suspected of chromosomal abnormalities; then, to study the karyotype, the umbilical cord blood is taken for analysis. The procedure is carried out under the control of ultrasound; the needle pierces the umbilical cord where it is attached to the placenta. Now in medical institutions they prefer to take for analysis not blood, but a sample of amniotic fluid or the outer shell of the fetus - chorionic villi.

What is done with the umbilical cord after childbirth

From the body of a woman, the umbilical cord comes out at the same time with the placenta and membranes, at the final stage of childbirth. A clamp is applied to the cord, followed by the umbilical cord cut. A brace is applied to the process leaving the baby's body, which is removed after a while. The remainder of the umbilical cord is cut off, and a sterile napkin is placed around the umbilical ring.

The umbilical cord, which served as the fetus of "dear life", after the birth of the baby is cut with surgical scissors

At proper care the wound heals within a few weeks - such measures are enough:

  • treat the umbilical area with hydrogen peroxide, brilliant green every day;
  • until the remainder of the umbilical cord falls off, keep the navel dry;
  • leaving the navel open for a few minutes when changing diapers.

A wound in the navel of a newborn requires daily care.

The last minutes of the umbilical cord

Already during childbirth, the vessels in the umbilical cord are compressed, the blood flow through them slows down. This is due to the action of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates labor. Blood stops in the umbilical cord 15 minutes after the birth of the child; under the influence of air temperature, which is lower than body temperature, the vessels contract even more, close completely. Within a few hours, the organ that has completed its tasks in the mother's womb atrophies.

When to cut the umbilical cord is an important medical question. Either immediately after the birth of the child, or a little later, after 2-3 minutes, when the organ stops pulsing. Previously, they did not stand on ceremony with the rope and removed without delay. However, new scientific discoveries made specialists think.

Scientists from The World Organization health officials found that in the first minute of a baby's life, 80 milliliters of blood flow from the placenta through the cord to him, and in the next 2 minutes - 100 milliliters. This blood contains a huge amount of a valuable element - iron, which will then be enough for a baby for a whole year.

Other studies have shown that late cutting of the umbilical cord will reduce the threat of:

  • extensive inflammation - sepsis;
  • cerebral hemorrhage;
  • respiratory diseases;
  • anemia;
  • visual defects.

If the umbilical cord is not cut at all, it will dry out and fall off by itself - after 4-7 days. Since the vessels of the organ are pinched, the outflow of blood from the baby's body is impossible these days. But who wants to keep a newborn tied to a dead organ - except perhaps to mothers from wild tribes, where this practice still exists.

But all the females of placental mammals, following instinct, bite the umbilical cord after giving birth.

It is better to get rid of the used umbilical cord in due time - no later than 3 minutes after the birth of the child. For example, already after 5 minutes with an unsected umbilical cord, the threat of functional jaundice in the baby increases.

But if the baby is born with asphyxiation (for example, due to a tightened knot on the umbilical cord), cutting the umbilical cord is required immediately in order to start resuscitation as soon as possible. Sometimes a child is born lifeless, but the umbilical cord pulsates, which means that not everything is lost, the baby is considered live-born and doctors are fighting for his life.

How is the baby attached in the womb with the help of the umbilical cord? and got the best answer

Answer from Ringed seal [guru]
O_O
girl, well, questions ....
The umbilical cord from the baby goes to the placenta, which can be attached to almost anywhere on the inner surface of the uterus (depending on where the ovum was implanted).
Ringed seal
Guru
(4879)
the placenta with the umbilical cord - yes. But most often on the side or back wall. If the placenta is closer to the cervix ("at the exit"), then they talk about presentation of varying degrees, which is good.

Answer from 2 answers[guru]

Hey! Here is a selection of topics with answers to your question: How is the baby attached in the womb with the help of the umbilical cord?

Answer from Vassa[guru]
Attach to the placenta, the placenta to the wall of the uterus.


Answer from Elena Abbasova[expert]
Ties the saber tightly with a sea knot, and even holds on with his hands so that he does not get carried away when it is stormy.


Answer from Yoalam Aleikum[guru]
the umbilical cord at the end expands into something like a cake. The placenta is called. It is the placenta that lets the villi - small branching roots - into the tissue of the uterus. And the uterus has a special lining inside, thick, with sugar. And these roots grow there, like into the ground, and a special sticky substance is released and glues them so that they do not fall off.


During pregnancy, new organs appear in the female body, which are necessary for the full intrauterine development of the fetus. One of them is the umbilical cord. This article will tell you about this unique organ vital for the growth and development of a baby in the womb.

What it is?

Doctors call the umbilical cord the umbilical cord, which connects a small embryo, and then the fetus to the placenta. Through this special "bridge", the child's body is connected with the mother. Such a relationship occurs almost in the very first months of pregnancy and lasts until the onset of childbirth.

Interestingly, the umbilical cord is found not only in humans. This organ is also found in all vertebrates that develop embryonic membranes during pregnancy. However, the structure of the umbilical cord in humans is different. It is much more complex than that of other mammals.

The umbilical cord has two ends. One of them attaches to the abdominal wall of the fetus, and the other to the placental tissue. In the place where the umbilical cord is attached to the baby's tummy, in the future there will be a familiar "mark" - the navel. It will appear after the baby is born and the doctor will cut the umbilical cord with a special tool.

Histologically, the umbilical cord is largely composed of connective tissue. It also contains elements from the preceding embryonic membranes, the amniotic membrane, and other components.

Appearance

Characteristic feature The umbilical cord is the way it looks. The umbilical cord is a rather long "cord" that can form loops. The longer the umbilical cord, the more loops it can form.

The umbilical cord is usually gray-blue in color. The presence of a blue tint is due to the fact that there are veins inside the umbilical cord. The umbilical cord is a truly unique organ as it only appears during pregnancy. After the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. This means the birth of a new person.

The outer surface of the umbilical cord is fairly smooth and even. The mucous membranes are quite shiny in appearance. The umbilical cord has good elasticity. This can be felt after the baby is born by cutting the umbilical cord. The tightness of the umbilical cord is somewhat reminiscent of soft rubber.

Structure

Despite the fact that the umbilical cord in its appearance resembles a simple cord, its anatomical "structure" is rather complex. So, inside the umbilical cord are blood vessels, as well as other anatomical elements. Each of them has its own structural features, and also performs certain functions.

Arteries

Through the umbilical arteries, fetal blood, which contains a lot of carbon dioxide, flows to the placental tissue. Also in this blood are metabolites that were formed in the child's body.

The umbilical arteries are branches of the mother's internal iliac arteries. Scientists have determined that in each period of pregnancy, a certain amount of blood flows through the umbilical cord. So, by the 20th week of pregnancy, about 35 ml of blood per minute flows through the umbilical arteries. How much blood flows through the arteries, the same amount of blood flows through the veins. This biological principle underlies the functioning of the child's body.

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Gradually, the amount of blood flowing to the placenta increases. So, by the final weeks of pregnancy, this figure is already 240 ml per minute. The larger the baby becomes, the more blood flows through the umbilical blood vessel system.

The umbilical arteries function only during pregnancy. After the birth of a child, they “close” and turn into special strands. Experts also call them medial umbilical folds (ligamenta medialis umbilicalis). These cicatricial cords run under the parietal leaf of the peritoneum on the anterior abdominal wall, lateral to the bladder. The medial umbilical folds extend all the way to the navel.

Veins

Initially, the umbilical veins are paired. Over time, obliteration (closure) of the right umbilical vein occurs. Blood flows through them from the placental tissue, enriched with oxygen and nutrients. In this case, most of the blood enters the inferior vena cava system through a special venous (Arancius) duct. A smaller part enters the portal bloodstream. This happens through the anastomosis between the left branch of the portal vein and directly the umbilical vein itself. This blood is essential for the blood supply to the liver tissue.

Urachus

This special, thin duct connects the bladder and placenta. By the time the baby is born, the urachus is completely closed. It becomes a cicatricial cord called the ligamentum medianum umbilicale. It is a long strip that runs along the midline of the abdomen.

In practice, there are cases when the urachus does not close completely. In such a situation, the risk of developing pathology is quite high. A urachus cyst is a pathological condition in which an incomplete closure of this embryonic duct occurs.

Yolk duct

This anatomical element is an elongated cord that connects the intestine of the embryo to the yolk sac. The yolk sac contains nutrients important for intrauterine development. They are still stocked up with an egg before conception takes place. The main nutritional component is lecithin.

This anatomical element is retained only for early dates pregnancy. Subsequently, the vitelline duct gradually overgrows. Certain pathologies can also be associated with it. So, if its closure by a certain date does not occur, then this can lead to the development pathological condition- the formation of a Meckel diverticulum.

Vartonov jelly

This anatomical element is very important. It performs many different functions that are necessary for the full intrauterine development of the fetus. The basis of Wharton's jelly is connective tissue. Appearance this anatomical element is peculiar. It has a gelatinous or jelly-like consistency, which in its chemical composition is represented mainly by mucopolysaccharides.

The main function of Wharton's jelly is to protect the blood vessels that are inside the umbilical cord from various mechanical influences. Also, gelatinous fluid protects the umbilical arteries and veins from various kinks and compression.

It should be noted that the warton jelly contains its own blood vessels. They are quite sensitive to an important pregnancy hormone, oxytocin. This sensitivity is especially pronounced during childbirth. When a baby is born, the level of oxytocin in the female body decreases, which leads to the fact that the blood vessels in the warton jelly begin to close. This reaction leads to the fact that the umbilical cord begins to atrophy rather quickly. The blood flow through it remains only for a certain time.

Length is normal

This indicator can be different. The length of the umbilical cord is an individual value. Even for one woman, the length of the umbilical cord can change during different pregnancies. Scientists have determined that the normal length of the umbilical cord is approximately 40-70 cm.

This length of the umbilical cord is necessary so that the baby can freely perform active movements. During the intrauterine development of the child, the amplitude and the number of movements performed by him significantly increase.

Active physical activity and an excessively long or short umbilical cord can become the reasons for the development of dangerous pathologies.

A wide variety of reasons can lead to lengthening. Doctors believe that the length of the umbilical cord may even depend on a genetic predisposition. Statistics indicate that the length of the umbilical cord during repeated pregnancy maybe more than the first.

There are many reasons that can lead to lengthening of the umbilical cord during pregnancy. In each case, they are different. With excessive lengthening of the umbilical cord, certain pathologies of the course of pregnancy may develop. In this case, doctors closely monitor the development of pregnancy.

Functions

The main function of the umbilical cord is to provide the fetus with all nutrients and oxygen for its nutrition. A baby during his intrauterine life in the mother's womb cannot eat on his own. He "feeds" on proteins, fats and carbohydrates, which he receives through the blood from his mother. The fetus feeds in this way throughout its entire intrauterine life.

The umbilical cord is also a kind of "bridge" between mother and baby. During the intrauterine life of the fetus, not only a biological, but also a mental connection is formed between him and his mother. Many scientific studies have shown that at a certain period of its development, the baby is able to feel the mother's experiences and even respond to changes in her mood.

How is it attached to the placenta?

The attachment of the umbilical cord to the placenta is a very important clinical criterion. The nature of the baby's intrauterine development even depends on how the umbilical cord attaches to the placental tissue.

The most physiological option is to attach the umbilical cord to the middle of the placenta. Doctors also call this option central. In this situation, the risk of developing any complications during pregnancy is quite low.

However, in obstetric practice, there are also cases when the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta "incorrectly". Attachment can occur in the region of the edge or even to shells. In this case, dangerous complications can develop during pregnancy that can affect the well-being of the child in the womb.

Various pathologies

The umbilical cord is a very important organ. Its physiological structure ensures the full growth and development of the baby, which "lives" in the mother's tummy. If any defects appear in the structure of the umbilical cord, then this can contribute to the development of dangerous pathologies.

Entanglement

A rather unfavorable pathology that can develop during pregnancy is the umbilical cord entanglement of the child's neck. Usually, this situation develops if the length of the umbilical cord exceeds 70 cm. Too long an umbilical cord begins to fold into loops that entangle the child.

The loops of the umbilical cord can wrap not only the neck, but also the abdomen, as well as the limbs of the fetus. The prognosis of the course of pregnancy and the upcoming birth depends on how the umbilical cord loops are located on the child's body.

So, if the loop of the umbilical cord is in the cervical groove of the baby and squeezes it strongly, then this can lead to the development of asphyxia during natural childbirth... If there are several loops, then this situation can be extremely dangerous. As a rule, with strong repeated entanglement, doctors try to prevent natural childbirth, and plan in advance for a cesarean section.

Umbilical cord entanglement is not always an absolute indication for a surgical method of obstetrics. Caesarean section with such a pathology is carried out if the risk of developing various injuries and injuries during natural spontaneous childbirth is quite high.

Nodes

Another possible pathology that can lead to a disruption in the course of normal pregnancy is the appearance of nodes on the umbilical cord. Experts identify several types of such formations. So, nodes can be true and false.

True nodes are usually formed in the first half of pregnancy. The child at this time is still quite small and very mobile. The vigorous physical activity of the baby can lead to the fact that the umbilical cord begins to "get tangled" and nodules appear on it.

The consequences of this pathology can be different. The presence of a large number of nodes on the umbilical cord can lead to a disruption in the blood supply of the child's body with oxygen and nutrients, which contributes to the development of intrauterine hypoxia. In this case internal organs the child cannot fully function, which contributes to the formation of pathologies.

Also, true nodes can become a certain "obstacle" in natural childbirth. During the passage of the baby through the birth canal, such nodules on the umbilical cord can be severely tightened, which will lead to a threat to the child's life.

In such a situation, urgent surgical intervention by doctors is required. It so happens that every minute of delay with the provision medical care is decisive.

In obstetric practice, there are also false nodes. In this case, the diameter of the umbilical cord increases. The prognosis of the course of pregnancy in the presence of false nodules on the umbilical cord is usually favorable.

Dropping out

The biomechanism of childbirth has strict sequential stages. Due to the fact that the child gradually moves through the birth canal, his birth is not accompanied by the development of any injuries or dangerous injuries. However, if the biomechanics of childbirth is disrupted, then in such a situation during childbirth, very dangerous conditions can develop.

One of them is the loss of the umbilical cord loops. In this case, the umbilical cord penetrates into the cervix and even into the vagina immediately with the discharge of amniotic fluid. In such a situation, when the fetus moves through the birth canal, dangerous conditions can arise. A child can simply pinch the umbilical cord, which will lead to a sharp decrease in the level of oxygen in his blood. Oxygen deficiency in this case will lead to the development of hypoxia, which ultimately can even lead to impaired cardiac activity in the fetus.

Obstetricians-gynecologists note that the risk of umbilical cord loops falling out is quite high when premature birth complicated by presentation. A pregnant woman may face this situation while not in the hospital. Outpouring of amniotic fluid with loss of umbilical cord loops can occur anywhere - for example, on the street, at home, in a park or in the country. In this situation, an ambulance team should be urgently called.

A pregnant woman who has an early prolapse of the umbilical cord loops should be urgently hospitalized in a hospital.

Cysts

It usually becomes possible to determine a cystic formation in the umbilical cord only, as a rule, when a child is born. Unfortunately, even modern ultrasound machines do not allow doctors to find out about the presence of this pathology during pregnancy. Diagnosis of umbilical cord cysts is rather difficult.

According to statistics, cysts in the umbilical cord are most often formed in the warton jelly. The number of cystic lesions may vary. So, only one or a few cysts may be present.

Note that not always in the presence of a cyst in the umbilical cord, a pregnant woman has any complications of the course of pregnancy. Quite often, with a small and single cyst, the expectant mother and her baby do not experience any adverse symptoms.

If there are many cysts and they pinch the blood vessels that are in the umbilical cord, then in such a situation the child develops uncomfortable symptoms. So, the baby's heart rate or even his physical activity may change.

Experts identify several clinical variants of cysts. So, they can be true and false. A pseudocystic formation located in Wharton's jelly does not have a capsule. Scientists have not yet precisely established the cause that leads to their appearance.

A true cyst is often formed from elements of the vitelline duct. It usually has a capsule. The size of a true cyst is different - from a few millimeters to 1.5 cm.

Differential diagnosis of false and true cysts is often extremely difficult. This can be done only after the baby is born, when the umbilical cord is sent for histological examination.

Vascular thrombosis

The identification of this pathology during pregnancy has become possible thanks to modern ultrasound techniques... During an ultrasound scan, the doctor can determine thrombosis (blockage) of the umbilical vessels. The cause of this occlusion is a thrombus that blocks the lumen of the umbilical cord blood vessel.

Some scientists believe that the development of this pathology can lead diabetes, which the expectant mother suffers during pregnancy. Also, the risk of developing thrombosis of the vessels of the umbilical cord is high in women who suffer from blood clotting pathologies.

Thrombosis, according to statistics, most often develops in the umbilical vein. The prognosis for the development of pregnancy with such a pathology is usually unfavorable. The development of further pregnancy largely depends on how large the thrombus is and how severe the functional disorders are.

Cord Blood Analysis

In certain cases, cordocentesis is required during pregnancy. This diagnostic procedure involves drawing blood from blood vessels that are located in the umbilical cord.

Cordocentesis is an invasive procedure. This means that the risk of developing possible complications is quite high. One of them is fetal infection. Given the danger of such severe complications, cordocentesis is performed only on strict medical grounds.

After childbirth

After the birth of a child, doctors must assess the condition of the umbilical cord. In order to "separate" the baby from his mother, the umbilical cord must be cut.

Previously, only doctors did it. Now the baby's father can also cut the umbilical cord if he is in the delivery room at the time the baby is born. This unique opportunity is now used by more and more parents. Usually, in the process of cutting the umbilical cord, the baby's father feels real pride, joy and tenderness.

How is it cut?

Many women think that only scissors are used to cut the umbilical cord. In practice, this is not entirely true. Obstetricians-gynecologists can use a variety of tools to cut the umbilical cord after the baby is born. Before cutting the umbilical cord, the doctor puts special clamps or clamps on it. This is necessary in order to "restrict" blood flow through the blood vessels.

When cutting the umbilical cord, it is important to remember that it still contains arteries and veins. The blood that is in the umbilical vein is used to determine the Rh factor and blood type in a newborn baby.

The stump, which is located next to the umbilical ring at born child, gradually begins to dry out, and then completely departs. However, in caring for a newborn, it is important to remember that it is quite easy to "bring" a dangerous infection into this area. To prevent such dangerous infectious complications, doctors make up a set of recommendations for the expectant mother and be sure to explain to her how to monitor the umbilical cord stump.

Note that for some time after birth, the baby's umbilical cord pulsates. This is totally normal. At this time, you should not rush to cut the umbilical cord. Too quick intervention can lead to the fact that oxygen-rich blood from the umbilical cord cannot fully enter the child's body. In this case, the baby's hemoglobin level may be reduced.

American scientists believe that the umbilical cord should be cut with a certain delay of a couple of minutes. Their research shows that in this case, the level of hemoglobin in the baby is slightly higher. Also, according to American experts, the baby with such a "delayed" cutting of the umbilical cord will gain weight better, and the risk of developing various pathologies that are possible in the first six months of a child's life will be significantly lower.

Note that not all obstetricians-gynecologists share the opinion of their American colleagues. Quite a lot of doctors practicing in European countries cut the umbilical cord within the first minute from the moment a baby is born. They justify this by the fact that cutting the umbilical cord “early” can reduce the risk of infection during childbirth.

For the structure and purpose of the umbilical cord, see the next video.

For 9 months, the expectant baby is completely safe in the womb of the mother, connected to her by a material thread, through which she receives the necessary nutrients. Soon he will only have a memory of her - a small wound that will heal and form a navel, but mom will be worried about where this thread goes after the baby appears, especially if she gives birth for the first time.

After conception, an anatomical formation appears in the woman's body, consisting of a chorion and a part of the ovum. From it, the placenta and the outgoing umbilical cord are formed. Together they received the medical name "afterbirth".

This education plays a huge role in carrying a baby. The placenta serves for temporary vital organs - lungs, intestines, kidneys and produces necessary substances such as oxygen and food, and the umbilical cord pumps them directly to the baby, and also removes waste products. In other words, it is such a "transfer".

Birth of a child

You have already learned where the umbilical cord is attached to the mother, and now we will analyze where the umbilical cord goes after the birth of the child.

The rupture of the membranes of the ovum and the discharge of amniotic fluid provokes the uterus to expel the fetus from itself - this is the beginning of labor. After the end, the afterbirth should come out on its own within 1.5-2 hours, if nothing came of it during this time, the doctors carry out the cleaning manually. The reason for this may also be a large loss of blood by the girl (more than 300 ml).

After separating the child's place, the obstetrician-gynecologist must examine the uterine cavity to exclude the presence of residual tissue that could lead to infection.

Ideally, if everything comes out at once, this is a signal that the risk of pathologies is minimal.

But in order to cut off the umbilical cord from a child, it is not necessary to wait for the extraction of the placenta. Immediately after the birth of the child, it is clamped in two places to stop the pulsation and then cut off. If the room is warm, you can wait up to 15 minutes for the pulsation to stop; if it is cold, everything happens faster. This is the answer to how this important thread is cut.

Mom's property

It is useful to know that this anatomical base is the property of the mother after childbirth, and your word for disposal is everything. Think about it and plan your actions while you are pregnant, there are 3 options:

  1. Pick up and dispose of as you see fit.
  2. Leave the hospital in charge.
  3. Save by freezing.

Interestingly, in advanced countries, the umbilical cord that comes out after childbirth is considered a unique organ that is frozen to preserve stem cells that can save a baby in emergency situations, in cases of problems and diseases. Also, cosmetics, medicines and stimulants are made from biological material, and the girls who donated their part for these purposes receive a good monetary reward. However, in the CIS countries such services are not very popular, so if you decide on modern method, first find out which clinics carry out this practice.

If there is no indication

Most moms are completely unaware of what to do with the umbilical cord if there is no indication. In such a case, it passes into the hands of the medical staff and must be disposed of, depending on the prescribed rules in this medical institution, and destroyed according to the laws of the region.

If the pregnancy took place with pathologies, part of it remains and the biomaterial is examined.

If the fetus was born dead, it is sent for histological analysis to understand the cause of the death.

Sometimes the fetal membrane is taken for experiments or to obtain certain materials, but these procedures are expensive. In most cases, the mother in childbirth is not notified of this, and the newly-made mothers themselves after childbirth, as practice has shown, are not interested in what is happening with the material next.

Ancestral beliefs

At a time when medicine was not yet so developed, our ancestors gave the children's place a truly sacred meaning and performed special rituals.

  • The women kept the dried pieces, as they believed that this would strengthen their bond and prevent the break of family ties.
  • Witch doctors cooked a decoction from it, which they watered young girls... It was believed that this way you can get secret knowledge.
  • If someone always carried a piece of their own flesh with them, connecting them to their mother, it was not considered strange. The ancestors believed that she gives wisdom and strengthens.
  • Another belief says that this thread is a storehouse of information about the owner, with which you can influence his life. Therefore, it was carefully kept from enemies.
  • It may seem even more insane that the ancient Slavs considered the last brother or sister of the child, buried him, and planted a tree on the site of the grave.

Those days are long gone. Science makes confident steps in its development, but it is you who must decide who and how the umbilical cord should belong after childbirth. Perhaps you will not remember about it, thereby handing it over to doctors, or you may decide to preserve stem cells. You are free in your choice, even if you consider it right to dry it and always carry it with you.